Aquitane, South West France

Sample the delights of South Western France. From long, sandy beaches to quaint seaside towns, this area is just waiting to be explored.Day 1 Departure
A morning departure to Dover and our ferry crossing to Calais. We then continue through France to our overnight hotel.

Day 2 Travel to Bordeaux
We head towards the Atlantic Coast, with a stop in the very picturesque resort of La Rochelle, before heading for Bordeaux, our resort for four nights.

Days 3-5 At leisure
Spend your days at leisure with two included excursions. The city of Bordeaux was listed as a World Heritage Site in 2007. Among its many attractions are the elegant squares, built mainly between the 13th and 18th Centuries. The historic centre abounds with cafés, restaurants and small shops. Since Roman times, Bordeaux has been the centre of France’s wine trade. Wine merchants financed the reconstruction of the city centre in the 18th. Century. Today Bordeaux is the capital of the French aviation industry and has more than one million inhabitants.

Included Excursion
Full Day Médoc wine-growing area & Atlantic Coast A full day included excursion to the famous Médoc wine-growing area and on to the Atlantic Coast, with an opportunity to sample some wine (not included). We travel to the small resort of Lacanau, a charming typical seaside town which has managed to preserve its natural environment. From here we go to Arcachon, where you will have the opportunity of a boat trip on Arcachon Bay. Known as the “city of four seasons” because of its mild all-year-round climate, it is rich in 19th Century architecture and its promenade has superb views across the bay.

Included Excursion
Full Day French Basque Country & Biarritz A full day included excursion into the French Basque Country and to the resort of Biarritz. The town was once regarded as one of the most up-market in France and its buildings show this. Its ageless charm coupled with beautiful beaches, a mild climate and a redesigned pedestrian shopping centre makes the town a mecca for tourists. Biarritz has long made its fortune from the sea: as a whaling settlement from the 12th Century onwards. In the 18th Century doctors recommended that the ocean at Biarritz had therapeutic properties, encouraging patients to make pilgrimages to the beach for alleged cures for their ailments. Biarritz became more renowned in 1854 when Empress Eugénie (the wife of Napoleon III) built a palace on the beach (now the Hôtel du Palais). The British royal family regularly took holidays in Biarritz: European royalty such as Queen Victoria, Edward VII, and Alfonso XIII of Spain were frequent visitors.

Day 6 Travel to overnight hotel
We travel back through France to our overnight hotel.

Last Day Travel home
We depart for Calais and our ferry crossing to Dover, arriving home during the evening.Novotel Le Lac, Bordeaux
Located on the shores of Lake Bordeaux the hotel offers a relaxing setting. Facilities include a bar, restaurant, and outdoor swimming pool. All bedrooms are en suite.